Monday, February 18, 2013

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Cotabato — A suspect in the “Maguindanao Massacre” was wounded and captured when his group clashed with government troops in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Saturday, local authorities said.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) based in Maguindanao said reported Sunday that one gunman was killed in an encounter and that one of those wounded was a certain Tammy Talimbong, a suspect in the Maguindanao Massacre case.

An Army official identified as Captain Louie Male of the 45th Infantry Battalion was also wounded during the clash.

Male was leading a team in patrolling the highway in Manungkaling district in Mamasapano town when they encountered Talimbong’s group.

The soldiers were sent to the area to guard the residents from a group of armed men reported to police.

When authorities had Talimbong’s identity checked, they found out the suspect was a former member of the so-called Ampatuan militia and is among those wanted in the Maguindanao massacre in 2009 in which 58 people, mostly journalists, were killed.